By Sean Conway

Caring for Your Christmas Tree

There is nothing less exciting than a newly decorated Christmas Tree that showers needles. So before you head out to choose your Christmas tree, here are a few things you should know.

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One of the great pleasures of the holiday season is the aroma of a freshly cut Christmas tree.

The smell of fir, pine or spruce wafting through the house triggers nostalgic memories for adults and children alike.

There is nothing more exciting for my children than the day we bring our Christmas tree home. After I string the lights, they decorate it and it is ready to preside over our holiday festivities.

There is nothing, however, less exciting than a newly decorated tree that showers needles.

So before you head out to choose that tree, here are a few things you should know.

Christmas trees are a big business

Last year, 28.2 million freshly cut trees were sold in the United States during a six-week period. Growers begin harvesting well before Thanksgiving -- and as soon as a tree is cut, it starts drying out, so choosing a fresh one is important.

If your family is like mine, finding the "perfect" tree will take lots of time. Choosing carefully not only keeps you from buying a dried-out one, but reduces the chance of fire, as dry trees ignite easily, even from an electrical short.

Look for a tree with dark green color, then bang the cut end on the ground a few times. If lots of needles fall, the tree is already dried out and should not be chosen. Tug on the needles to make sure they are firmly attached. If they break off easily, this is not a good choice, either.

Once you have selected a tree, cut an inch or two off the bottom of the trunk. This provides a fresh opening for the cambium layer, the area just under the trunk that allows water to enter the tree.

Conifers absorb water more efficiently in cooler temperatures, so once you're home, place the tree in a bucket of water and leave it outside for at least 24 hours so it can soak up as much water as possible. Some will quickly absorb a gallon.

When you bring your tree inside, keep it away from heat sources, fireplaces or hot sunny windows. The cooler the room, the better. It's important to keep the trunk in water at all times, as over the course of the holidays, the average tree can drink up to a quart of water a day.

Care must be taken with any cut greens brought inside to keep them fresh. Holly or boxwood last longer with their stems in water, or in moistened floral foam. To keep laurel or pine roping fresh, spray it with an anti-desiccant product like Wilt-Pruf before bringing indoors. Such sprays help stop plants from losing moisture through their leaves.

Cut trees and greens should only remain in the home for about two weeks. Following these simple tips will help keep your holidays fresh and green.

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Caring for Your Freshly Cut Christmas Tree

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